Skarâs eyes narrowed, the flame in his body now swirling with intense ferocity.
âI donât intend to lose this easily.â His muscles tensed, and with a roar, he activated the first form of his Star Phoenix Movement ArtâFlame Stepâat full power. The flames around him exploded, igniting the very air with searing heat.
The strings of fire that held him snapped under the force of his power, and Skar descended like a comet, landing with a crash that sent shockwaves rippling through the ground.
His scythe was already in motion, the blade aimed directly at Klaus.
But Klaus was ready. With a flick of his wrist, he vanished in a burst of wind, appearing behind Skar in an instant. He aimed a powerful slash at Skarâs exposed back.
Skar, sensing the movement, spun around, his scythe clashing with Klausâs saber in a deafening sound. Sparks flew as the two weapons collided, each strike pushing the other back. The sound of metal against metal rang through the air as the battle intensified.
"Youâre fast," Klaus said, his voice full of admiration. "But not fast enough."
Skarâs grin returned. "Weâll see about that."
Standing two miles away, Klausâs team watched the battle with varied expressions.
Queenie had been paying attention to Klaus from the moment the battle started, and at every turn, her expression narrowed.
"I wouldnât last a moment against him. That footwork is just the first form of his movement technique, but it is already this powerful. What happens when he starts using the second or fourth forms?"
Her sisters had the same thought.
"Makes me wonder what he will become once he reaches the pinnacle of the technique," Miriam added, also watching Klausâs movements.
"It looks fluid, effortless, and just beautiful..." Anna couldnât deny the allure of watching Klaus move like a ghost, weaving one attack after another.
"But Skar is no easy opponent. I canât even bring myself to think I lasted a minute against him. They both are monsters," Lucy remarked, and her sisters nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, on the side, Nyxthar watched Klaus and Skar battle it out with a calm expression. Eren and Veylor were beside him...
"What do you think, Nyxthar? Can you last a minute against Master?" Eren asked, attempting to tease Nyxthar.
"Master is no easy opponent, and we both know that when it comes to combat, especially close combat, there is no one better than him.
But this is not the version of him from before. This is a much weaker version, and while he is impressive, I can handle him and even defeat him... that is, if we go purely by close combat. Active skills-wise, and he would destroy me."
Eren just smirked, not knowing if Nyxtharâs brain worked like theirs. âNo wonder he never had any friends back then. His mind is just like a masterâs, always thinking about how best to execute the next skill...â
"What about Skar? Can you win against him? So far, he is matching master in both speed and endurance. Can you do the same?"
"I can defeat him easily. Of course, I can do that because of my experience from before eternal sleep. However, aside from me and Master, none of you can last a minute against him... especially you, Veylor."
"Tsk," Veylor chuckled. "You make it sound like I am the weakest among the Doom Guards."
"None of us are weak, Veylor, itâs just that you are not up to standard. I mean, you nearly died when you tried to look down on Masterâs guards back then. You saw what she did to you... In case you forgot, let me remind you.
The one named the Fox lady had you tangled in countless strings, and had you not been one of us, she would have killed you with a snap of her finger." Nyxthar laughed, and even Eren couldnât help giggling.
Veylor gritted his teeth, fist clenched. "That crazy Nine-Tailed Fox... The next time we meet, I will pay her back for the humiliation."
"Then youâd better start training like your life depends on it. Right now, you canât even face Skar, and Eren is an assassin, so it will be a game of hide and seek. Maybe start with Masterâs wife, who uses poison.
I witnessed her archery skills during the battle. Sheâs better than you, so youâd better start with her.
After you manage to defeat her, Skar will step in. I know you wouldnât be able to defeat him, but if you manage to last ten minutes with him, Iâll step in to prepare you for your inevitable defeat against... what was her name again?"
"Yuying," Eren said.
"Yes. Better prepare, Veylor. Knowing her, sheâs diligently making her way to Master as we speak."
Veylor shrugged and moved away. If he stayed too long, Nyxthar would make him cry. After he left, Nyxthar turned to Eren...
"The same applies to you. Youâd better sharpen your daggers... that demoness will come again, and well... I donât have to remind you what happened the last time."
Eren glared at Nyxthar and chuckled before dissolving into the shadows. The next second, she appeared behind Luna and her sister Nuna.
Nyxthar chuckled. "I forgot how satisfying it is to tease them."
"However, the master is lacking. The previous him would have long dismantled this brat by now. Then again, this is a friendly spar, so heâs holding himself back."
Klaus and Skar had been sparring for 30 minutes already; however, aside from the first win Klaus secured, he hadnât secured another yet.
That is normal, considering Klaus wasnât utilizing the 8% space law he currently possesses. Skar was using both flame and space law, and based on how he was moving and pushing Klaus back, his close combat skills were perfect, firm, but, in Klausâs eyes, still lacking.
If only Klaus were aware, Nyxthar also thought the same of him.
To his wives, Klausâs battle moves are perfect, but to Nyxthar, he is not. He is still lacking, and that alone raises the question: Can there truly be a perfect warrior?
This question was asked by many, but the answer remained unknown. To many, there are perfect warriors, but to others, those perfect warriors are flawed.
So then, when can there be a true, perfect warrior?
Even a better question: what is a perfect warrior? What makes one a perfect warrior?
Can there ever be a perfect warrior? If yes, then how can one become a perfect warrior?
After two hours, Klaus and Skar ended their spar. Klaus saw where he needed to improve, and Skar was in the same situation. But for now, the concept of a perfect warrior remained shrouded in mystery...